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pations as consisting in "eating and sleeping Gustavus, the embodiment of the nation's well, studying a little, conversing, laughing, glory, a glory she had now so tarnished! and witnessing French, Italian, and Spanish When news of the queen's conversion arrived comedies." She then makes a strange per- in Stockholm, the first burst of the national version of the language of Solomon, adding: indignation was vented on her old preceptor "Every one ought to live content, eating, Mathias, who was accused of not having guarddrinking, and singing." When the archduke ed the queen's mind against error. The acinquired what confessor or chaplain she had cusation was unjust, but men are never just at brought in her train, she carelessly replied such times; vain was every attempt at defence; that in travelling from Sweden she had got rid he was disgraced and deprived of his bishopof all useless lumber. The Jesuits, several of ric. Had it not been for the king to whom whom had come to Stockholm after the peace she wrote, appealing to his gratitude, the senof Westphalia, and during the last two years ate would have withdrawn the revenues grantwere said to have conversed much with her, ed her. She had by this time lavished all and fixed to their faith the mind that had been her ready money on players, parasites, and set a-wandering by Bourdelot and Salmasius, priests, and it was now time to quit Brussels wishing to believe in her sincerity, were will- and proceed to Rome, agreeably to the most ing now to make a saint of this illustrious pros- pressing invitations from the pope to take up elyte, if she would have been dishonest enough her abode in that city. In her suite, amountto permit of it. One of them in preaching ing to nearly two hundred persons, were now before her said: "Your majesty shall hereafter two ladies of honor, merely ornamental, howbe placed among the saints." With a sarcastic ever, for she never made use of their services, smile, she said: "I should like better to be nor even noticed them. The men were chiefly placed among the sages!" This anecdote is Spaniards and Austrians, and there were only curious as showing that, although she delighted four Swedes of quality, two Jesuits, and a in the éclat of playing a part before mankind, Dominican. At Augsburg she is said to have she had no taste for others assisting her in it, shed tears when shown the table at which her which we would call a strange mixture of hon- father dined after the victory which completed esty and dishonesty, were it not that even the conquest of Bavaria. At Innsprück, in while acting she made no secret that it was all presence of a number of the German nobility a trick, by which she was neither tricking and some of the imperial archdukes, she made mankind nor herself. Indeed, her conduct at a grand public renunciation of the Protestant this time, and for two years before her abdi- faith, and was received with great pomp and cation, shows such mad levity and gratuitous solemnity into the bosom of the Catholic church recklessness, with such sudden changes of hu--followed, as at Brussels, by banquets, balls, mor, spirits, and purpose, as, coming from a and comedies, and a general magnificence so woman of undoubted talent, that we cannot dazzling that she was constantly exclaiming, but feel forced to the conclusion that her in- in childish glee: "O che bella! che bella! tellect had become disordered. On the evening of the day in which she made The festivities at Brussels were scarcely end- her solemn profession in the cathedral, she ed when news arrived of the death of the was present at a comedy arranged expressly widow of the great Gustavus, and also that of for her, which drew from her the remark: the celebrated Oxenstiern, both, it is said, of a "Tis but fair that you should treat me to a broken heart, in consequence of the queen's comedy after I have treated you to a farce!" conduct; but we are disposed to receive most After a stay of eight days at Innspruck, she of such statements with reservation, seeing proceeded on her journey, and began to be how much the human heart can endure with- received with greater honors the nearer she out breaking, often destined to die many living approached the Eternal City. On the 19th deaths, and yet still to live on. The queen- of December, 1655, at seven in the evening, dowager had been, it is said, "cut to the heart she entered Rome incognito, by the light of by the indifference with which her daughter many torches, and with an escort of Swiss had parted from her, and refusing all comfort, guards. She was conducted by two cardinals fell into a languishing distemper and expired." into the presence of his holiness, and after Some of the laudatory lives of Christina re-three low obeisances, she kissed his foot, and count that she was much affected on hearing then his hand, after which she was seated in a of her mother's death. Oxenstiern is said to chair of red velvet and gold. They then held have died with the name of Christina on his a long and animated conversation together, lips, saying: "Tell her she will repent of what and she was conducted to splendid apartments she has done;" a message she received with a prepared for her in the Vatican, the library smile. She had repaid his services with in- of which she visited next day; and after a few gratitude, had often vexatiously opposed to days spent in private felicitations, concerts, him men without talents and without charac- and visits exchanged with the pope, when all ter; but she was the daughter of the great things were in readiness, she made a grand

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public entrance into Rome, seated on a white to receive her, and her route seemed a triumhorse presented to her by the pope, clad like phal procession, the honors due to a crowned an Amazon, having a cardinal on each side, head being accorded her. In the amusing and surrounded by all the principal nobility Memoirs of Mademoiselle de Montpensier, we and clergy. Amidst discharges of artillery have the following account of Christina, now and to sound of trumpet, as if she had been in her thirtieth year: "I had heard so much a victorious empress, she traversed the streets of her bizarreries that I was afraid lest I should and entered St. Peter's, which had been adorn- have laughed in her face, but though she ased with her arms and emblazoned with her tonished me beyond measure, it was not so as deeds, where she was received by the pope, to provoke a smile. She was of a small, slight who testified his joy at her conversion; adding, figure, a little deformed, with light eyes, an that in heaven there would be still greater re- aquiline nose, a large mouth, fine teeth, and a joicing. The Roman ladies seem to have very expressive countenance. Her dress was been somewhat scandalized at her masculine a short gray petticoat, laced with gold and attitude and attire; but on being told she had silver, a flame-colored doublet, also laced with fought against the king of Denmark, they gold; a lace cravat, and a black hat, with a thought her Amazonian appearance quite suit-plume of feathers." She astonished this lady able. After a second round of festivities, she by throwing her legs over the arm of her took up her abode in the Palazzo Farnese, chair, swearing and laughing loud, and even and spent many months in inspecting the an- putting men out of countenance by her eccentiquities of Rome, becoming acquainted with tric and audacious talk, in the midst of which the learned men, and visiting the various she would have strange fits of absence, reacademies. One day, when loudly admiring covering as if from a dream. She made a a statue of Truth by the sculptor Fernini, one of the cardinals said to her: "God be praised that your majesty loves the truth, which is often distasteful to persons of your rank." "I do not doubt it," replied she; "but all truths are not made of marble."

public entrance into Paris, preceded by a body of one thousand cavalry, mounted, in male attire, on a superb white charger, with pistols at her saddle-bow, the Duke de Guise riding by her side. The people, who looked on her Amazonian appearance with wonder Her letters to Ebba Sparre about this time and admiration, rent the air with their shouts. exhibit a marked change of tone, indicating She was conducted to Notre Dame, where Te that in the midst of daily concerts, masquer- Deum was performed, and thence to the Louades, and plays, she was beginning to feel that vre, where she was splendidly lodged and enall was vanity, and to sigh, as the roughest tertained. This was the last time regal honors and least loving and lovable of mankind will were publicly awarded her. At Chantilly she sometime sigh, for quiet sympathy. She was met by Cardinal Mazarin, and here she writes: "Am I still as dear to you as I form- gave an instance of her great penetration by erly was? or have I deceived myself in fan- addressing Louis XIV., then only nineteen, cying I was dearer to you than any one else? who had mingled with the crowd, and been Oh! if it be so, do not undeceive me, but presented to her under a feigned name, as leave me in the happy delusion, that I am be- mon frère, but with no other designation of loved by the most amiable being in the world." his quality. He was then timid in female soPoor Christina! We know not what was the ciety, but she exercised her powers of fascinareply, but the fact seems to be that Ebba tion, and they conversed with mutual pleasure. Sparre had never either loved or professed to The court was then at Compeigne, and at her love her, and had found her departure a re- first interview with Anne of Austria, she is lief. Christina soon began to be viewed with described as wearing a black wig, much disorsuspicion at Rome, caused by her levity of dered by the wind, and all awry on her head; manner and freedom of language, also the her complexion was coarse and sun-burned; contempt she showed for the nobles and for she had no gloves, and her hands were so dirty women even of the highest rank. She em- that the original color could not be discerned; broiled herself with the pope by openly join- she wore a shirt and vest, and the same short ing the Spanish party; a dangerous sickness gray petticoat, and held a riding-whip in her also seizing her, she made use of this as an hand. The budding Grand Monarque actuexcuse for quitting Rome, and when the time ally took one of those dirty hands in his, and of the malaria was approaching, she set out on led her to table; and whatever may have been a visit to Paris, in August, 1656, having been the amazement of the court at such a strange invited thither by the French court. So low visitant, not only was there no expression of was she both in purse and credit, her pension it, but all honors were paid, and the general from Sweden being as unpunctually as it was opinion agreed with that of Madame Mottegrudgingly paid, she was obliged to pawn her ville, that after the first half hour she "could jewels to defray the necessary expenses of not help considering Christina with interest, the journey. The Duke de Guise was sent and even with admiration." On witnessing

the French and Italian comedy, she laughed secrecy of his order, put into his hands a sealed immoderately, loudly expressed her pleasure packet, which he was to return to her at the or disapprobation, so as to attract every won- time and place she should require. Meandering eye, and would sometimes retire to the time, the suspicions of Monaldeschi were back of the box and fall into a profound rev- awakened by the non-arrival of his letters; he erie, from which even the queen could not began to wear a coat-of-mail, and seemed to rouse her. Madame de Motteville says: "She contemplate flight. Four days after she had often sang in company as well as dreamed, spoken to the prior, on the 10th of November, was unequal in mood and free in talk as well she summoned Monaldeschi into her presence. on religion as on other subjects calling for He came, pale and trembling; but, at first, modesty in her sex; she swore, never remain- she spoke on indifferent subjects. Soon, howed long in the same place, and in presence of ever, the prior entered, as she had appointed, the king, queen, and court, put up her legs and by another door, Santinelli with two armon the scats. In spite of her strange appeared men, and the doors were instantly secured. ance and stranger habits, she always sustained She then asked the prior for the packet, and her dignity, could not be approached familiar- held it up to Monaldeschi, asking him, in a ly, and seemed everywhere mistress." She loud and angry tone, if he knew it. At first, left Paris in November, all her triumphs now he denied it, and maintained it was her own at an end, in a hired carriage with but few writing. She then brought forth the originattendants, her costs through France defrayed als. After some vain subterfuges, he threw by the king. An absurd report ran that she himself at her feet, and begged for forgivehad wished to captivate Louis, but it never ness, confessing that he had pronounced his gained general credence. On her return to own death sentence. The armed men now Rome she felt so much the absence of all drew their swords; Monaldeschi continued his demonstration, and the evident indifference abject entreaties that the queen would listen towards her, that, sighing for the gaities of to his justification. The scene had lasted more France, she found pretexts amongst others, than an hour, when Christina, with the utmost that of witnessing a ballet in which Louis him- calmness, said to the prior: "I go, and leave self was to dance-for repeating her visit, and this man in your hands; prepare him for arrived at Fontainebleau, in October, 1657, death." They then both threw themselves at vainly expecting a renewal of the former her feet, and begged that his punishment might honors, and not yet alive to the truth that she be banishment for life. She replied, it was was no longer a novelty, or how largely her better to die than live without honor, and reeccentricities and conversion had contributed newed her reproaches for his treachery. She to the general wonder and admiration. She then departed with the words: "God show now appeared in "an old worn-out vehicle, mercy to you as I have shown justice." While an old yellow petticoat, an old red jacket, and the men stood over him with drawn swords, a dirty hood," and was attended by Chevalier Santinelli, moved to pity, went out to interSantinelli, called the captain of her guards, cede for the wretched man. The prior also and the Marquis Monaldeschi, her chamber- again supplicated the queen with tears, and lain. She took up her quarters in the palace by the wounds of the Saviour, to have mercy, of Fontainebleau, and there committed that but in vain. Some writers say that Monalstrange and mysterious deed of horror at deschi, still unable to believe that the queen which the whole of Europe stood aghast. would carry out her purpose, refused to conMonaldeschi, her chamberlain, an Italian fess himself, till she, ridiculing his cowardice, of good family, had long stood high in Chris-coolly said: "Give him a stab to show him tina's favor, and had been intrusted by her I am in earnest!" and that he received two with the most important affairs, of what nature wounds before confessing, but the story is too has never been explained, or her reasons for atrocious for belief. Others say he defended beginning to doubt his fidelity. She now watched his every motion, opened his letters, discovered his treachery, of which, when she hinted to him that some one was playing false, he accused another. She then said to him: "What does such a traitor deserve?"

The marquis replied: "Death on the spot, and I am willing either to inflict or endure it, for it is only an act of justice."

"Good!" said she; "and remember your words, for I promise you I will not pardon him." She then sent for the prior of the convent of the Holy Trinity, Père le Bel, and telling him that she demanded from him the

himself to the last with the strength of despair. It is time to draw a veil over this scene of horror. The body was interred, by desire of the queen, in the convent of the Trinity, and she gave two hundred francs for masses for his soul.

On hearing of this signal violation of all law, justice, and humanity, the king, not feeling himself entitled to demand a justification which Christina, in virtue of her divine right as queen, did not condescend to offer, requested that she would not appear in Paris for some time. She remained in seclusion for two months at Fontainebleau, and was then invited

to celebrate the carnival in Paris, but she was how he would wish to destroy them all both so ill received that she saw it meet to make a body and soul, she replied: "I know him betspeedy departure. On her return to Rome, ter; he would not give four thalers for all your there was still a display of respect to cover souls." After seven month's stay she was conthe general distrust; but from this moment strained to depart, with what inward mortifithere was no more liberty for her there, for cation and bitter repentance may be conceived, the pope appointed as comptroller of her and spent a whole year in Hamburg, in the household Cardinal Azzolini, a subtle Italian, laboratory of the alchemist and the pursuit of who was to be a spy on all her actions, and so the philosopher's-stone. In 1662 she returned completely overreached her, that false as he to Rome, and enjoyed the triumph of seeing was, he retained her confidence to the end. the pope humbled by France; but, unable to On state occasions, to avoid being eclipsed by remain at rest, she again left that city in 1666, the Italian nobles, she would pledge her jew- and proceeded to Hamburg, whence she sent els and plate, to prevent which, and make her a memorial to the Swedish Diet, desiring perstill more subject, the pope gave her a yearly mission to reside in the kingdom as a private allowance of twelve thousand crowns, which, individual. When she received the answer however, scarcely lessened the labor of Azzolini in settling their continual disputes.

she had advanced as far as Norkoping; but, on seeing the nature of the document, in In 1660, died Charles Gustavus, king of which there was an implied accusation of Sweden, in the flower of his age, and midst treason, severe allusions to the murder of dreams of warlike glory, leaving as sole heir Monaldeschi, an affected belief that she was a an infant son in waning health. Christina in- tool in the hands of the pope, a decree against stantly set out for Sweden, leaving her affairs her residing in any of the Swedish dominions in the hands of Azzolini. Her pretext was but Pomerania, or approaching the court of to demand the more punctual payment of her the young king, concluding with a cutting rerevenue; but there can be no doubt her real mark on the tendency of the family of Vasa object was the resumption, if possible, of the to grow cruel and tyrannical as they grow old, crown. At Hamburg she met with the cele- she instantly left the place and returned to brated Algernon Sydney, who thus writes in Hamburg. Her old favorite, La Gardie, is the Sydney Papers: "She is thought to have said to have been among the most bitter against great designs, of which every one judges ac- her, and to have boasted that on her former cording to their humor. Some think she will visit he had made her tremble. At Hamburg pretend to the crown; others, that she will be she gave a grand banquet, followed by a lyricontented with the regency, and there doth cal ballet, founded on the Jerusalem Delivered, not want those that say that she is employed in which she took the part of Armida. A from Rome to sow dissensions in Sweden. I gleam of good fortune now came to cheer her. have conversed a great deal with her, and do News arrived of the death of the pope, and not believe a word of all this." Another sig- the election of her friend Clement IX., which nal proof, coming from such a man-if proof she celebrated by a grand fête, illuminated were yet awanting-of her immense power her palace, and exhibited a transparency of of pleasing and of dissimulating. He adds, the Romish Church trampling heresy under however: "Though all the principal persons of the senate owe their fortunes to her, no man can undertake that she may not pass the rest of her life in some castle in Sweden." Great, indeed, were the excitement, fear, and jealousy, when her approach became known. No sooner had she passed the frontiers than every step was watched; she was forced to send back to Hamburg all her foreign attendants, including her confessor, and to hear mass in the chapel of the French Embassy. The payment of her pension she was obliged to receive as a favor, after signing a second renunciation of the crown, and she was required either to renounce the Romish faith or quit the kingdom. Parival says that with tears and clasped hands she sued for her rights, as she termed them. One day when the clergy were remonstrating with her on her change of religion, and her attempt to have mass said in the royal palace, the old archbishop of Upsal enlarged on the intrigues of the pope, and

her feet, which so exasperated the good Prot estant citizens that they broke her lamps and windows, and nearly pulled down her palace, herself escaping with difficulty. She took all in perfect good humor, and sent two thousand crowns to the sufferers in the affray.

In 1667 the elective throne of Poland had become vacant, and as Christina was among the most eager competitors for it, her hopes were now raised to a high pitch, owing to the important aid she expected to receive from Rome, whither she returned in November, 1668, when the affair was still pending. Sanguine and active, she was indulging in old visions of despotic rule, and of leading in person a Polish army, when Clement IX. died, to the no less regret of the Romans than of Christina, for with him died her hopes of the crown of Poland. She intrigued in vain to raise her friend Conti to the papal chair, the successful candidate being an old man of eighty, who loved ease, and had no other passion than

avarice. Christina now resumed her studious | word, that those whom you have condemned habits, and spent the next few years in col- to death, shall live, if it please God, some time lecting works of art, making experiments in longer; and if they should die by any other chemistry, corresponding with learned men hand than His, they shall not fall alone.' It and societies, and sometimes interfering in the was not till after her death, that the pope sucpolitical intrigues of the continent. Seeing ceeded in abolishing these abuses. He had she had given up all thoughts of returning to met his match. In everything she foiled him, Sweden, her revenues were more regularly abetted as she was by the French ambassador. paid, and she was thus enabled to maintain She went about with her suite armed. When some state, her retinue amounting to nearly one of the cardinals reminded her it was the four hundred persons. She may almost be pope she was defying, she replied: "What if called the founder of the celebrated Academy he be a pope? I will make him know that I of the Arcadia, which took its rise from the am a queen." One warm day, when she had meetings in her palace. She fostered the paraded the streets with her armed servants, genius of astronomers and poets; and if the the two offenders especially conspicuous — latter sung her praises rather too warmly, it is he sent her some fine fruit from his garden on a fault we are inclined to reckon among the Monte Cavallo, with a polite message. She virtues, just as we include ingratitude among thanked him, but added: "Do not let the the unpardonable sins. She raised the poet pope imagine that he can lull me to sleep with Filicaja from the depths of poverty, loaded his feigned courtesies!" At length, deterhim with benefits, and educated his family; mined to carry his point, he excommunicated and when he became one of the first lyric the French ambassador and withdrew Chrispoets of Italy, we admire him all the more that he employed his genius in immortalizing his munificent patroness.

tina's pension, to which she only said: "Tell him that I have accepted his benefits as a penance inflicted on me by the hand of God, and I thank him for having removed from me such a subject of shame and humiliation."

We next find Christina embroiled with a new pope. The foreign ambassadors and their suites had, from ancient times, enjoyed certain A traveller who saw her at this period, privileges, which had gradually extended so when she was about sixty, thus describes her: far beyond their residences that the ends of" She had discarded the doublet; the black justice were frustrated, there being no less wig, the laced cravat with its knot of scarlet than two-thirds of the city in which criminals ribbons; and her attire, though scarcely more could not be arrested. The pope resolved no becoming to her sex, was more suitable to her longer to suffer this abuse; and after long ne-age. She was usually habited in a coat or vest gotiations, the different powers gave way, the of black satin, reaching almost to the knees, privileges to be henceforth confined to their and buttoned down the front; under this, a residences and the persons of their suites. One very short petticoat. Her own light-brown day, however, a criminal, who had been seized hair, once so beautiful and luxuriant, was cut by the sbirri, escaped and took shelter in a short, and combed up so as to stand on end, stable attached to the queen's palace. It was without covering or ornament. She was very locked, but he clung to the chain with the short, fat, and round; her voice, features, and strength of despair, though they put a cord complexion completely masculine, and in no round his neck and he was on the eve of stran- respect agreeable. Her eyes, however, regulation. The noise of the affray reached the tained their brilliance, and her tongue beears of Christina, who was in her chapel; and witched as oddly as her eyes." Of her own she instantly ordered Landini, now captain of appearance and feelings as to the approach of her guards, to rescue the man, and cut down old age, she writes to a French lady: "I am the officers of justice if they resisted her will. not grown handsomer since you saw me— The sbirri sunk on their knees and resigned far from it; and I am still as ill satisfied with their victim, who was led in triumph by the my own person as ever. I envy not those populace, who kept shouting: Viva la Regina. who possess fortune, dominions, treasures, but The pope complained of the insult offered to would fain raise myself above all mortals by his authority; the queen, of that to her digni- wisdom and virtue; and that is what makes ty and the violation of her precincts. The me discontented. Au reste-I am in good pope desired his treasurer to write demanding health, which will last as long as it pleases God. that Landini and his companions should be de- I have an extreme aversion to grow old, livered up to justice; to which Christina replied in a letter, become famous for its pith and brevity: To dishonor yourself and your master, is then termed justice in your tribunal? I pity and despise you now, but shall pity you more when you become cardinal. Take my

and hardly know how I shall get used to the idea. If I had had my choice between old age and death, I think I should have chosen the latter without hesitation. But since we are not consulted on this point, I shall resign myself to live on with as much pleasure as I can.

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